Fish novelty item

ABSTRACT

A novelty item has a main element having a front surface including an image of a head, a body, and a tail of a fish thereon. The main element further has first and second portions separable along a line between the head and tail. The first portion includes the image of the head and the second portion includes the image of the tail. The portions are configured to abut each other so as to display the head, body, and tail in a continuous manner, and further configured to separate from each other so as to display the head and the tail in a discontinuous manner. The portions can include respective handholds, which can be apertures. The novelty item can further have a guide connected to the first and second portions and can facilitate movement and abutment thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Novelty items can be provided for humorous purposes. A fish novelty item can provide such purposes in relation to the sport of fishing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a fish novelty item.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fish novelty item can include a main element having a front surface including an image of a head, a body, and a tail of a fish thereon, with the main element further having first and second portions being separable along a line between the head and the tail such that the first portion includes the image of the head whilst the second portion includes the image of the tail.

In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, the first and second portions can be configured to abut each other so as to display the head, body, and tail in a continuous manner, whilst being further configured to separate from each other so as to display the head and the tail in a discontinuous manner.

In a further exemplary aspect of the present invention, optionally, a fish novelty item can further include a guide connected to the first and second portions. The guide can have a first position, in which the first portion abuts the second portion; and a second position, in which the first and second portions are separated from each other.

Any combination of the following can be optional exemplary aspects of the present invention:

-   -   the first and/or second portion can further include at least a         portion of the body that is contiguous with the head and/or         tail;     -   the main element can be at least substantially flat;     -   the main element can be shaped like a fish;     -   the first and second portions can include respective handholds;         and     -   a handhold can be an aperture through said main body and through         which a user can pass their hand.

Notably, any exemplary aspect illustrated, shown, or described herein, can be utilized optionally with any embodiment of the present invention.

These and other exemplary aspects of the present invention are described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not in limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which a main element 110 can include a first portion 120 and a second portion 130 that are separable along a line 140, with a front surface 112 having an image of a head 114, body 116, and tail 118 of a fish.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which first and second portions 120,130 are separated to display the head and the tail in a discontinuous manner.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which main element can include at least one handhold, which can be provided as at least one aperture 150, and a guide 160 to facilitate abutment and separation of the portions 120,130.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures. It should be kept in mind that the following described embodiments are only presented by way of example and should not be construed as limiting the inventive concept to any particular physical configuration, material, or order. Further, exemplary embodiments and aspects between Figures are not to be construed in a limiting manner, and in particular, all combinations of all exemplary aspects are to be construed as embodiments independent of each other.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which a fish novelty item 100 can include a main body 110 having a front surface 112, with the front surface including an image of a head 114, a body 116, and a tail 118 of a fish thereon. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, main body 110 can have first and second portions 120, 130 that can abut each other along a line 140, so as to display head 114, body 116, and tail 118 in a continuous manner. Notably, as illustratively shown, line 140 can be straight, but can be straight and/or curved, in whole or in part.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary aspect of the present invention, in which first and second portions 120, 130 are also configured to separate from each other so as to display head 114 and tail 118 in a discontinuous manner, with the first portion including the image of the head whilst the second portion including the image of the tail.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, main body 110 can be formed of any functionally compatible material desired, including, but not limited to, any combination of the following: wood, paper, plastic, metal, and/or any other man-made or naturally-occurring material or materials. Thus, main body 110 can be rigid or flexible. Further, main body 110 can be provided in shape that is flat, substantially flat, curved, or any combination thereof. In an exemplary aspect, main body 110 can be curved so as to have a three dimensional fish shape.

According to a further exemplary aspect of the present invention, front surface 112 can be positioned by a user (not shown) so as to face away from the user. For example, and not in limitation, a user (not shown) can hold main body 110 such that the front surface 112 is exposed to one or more other persons.

In still another exemplary aspect of the present invention, head 114, body 116, and tail 118 can be provided on front surface 112 by any form of coloring and/or shading of the front surface, including, but not limited to, directly painting the front surface or attaching a substrate upon which any form of coloring and/or shading has been applied (for example, and not in limitation, attaching a picture or image printed on paper).

In a further exemplary aspect of the present invention, first portion 120 can include at least a portion of body 116 that is contiguous with head 114; and/or second portion 130 can include at least a portion of body 116 that is contiguous with tail 118.

In still another exemplary aspect of the present invention, main element 110 can be held by a person at any portion thereof.

Optionally, first portion 120 and/or second portion 130 can include a respective handle (not shown), which can be provided anywhere on main element 110. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a handle can be provided as one or more apertures 150 through which a user can pass one or more of their hands.

As also illustrated in FIG. 3, optionally the present invention can further include a guide 160 connected to first and second portions 120,130. Guide 160 can be provided as one or more elements that facilitate movement of first and second portions 120, 130, such as movement between the abutment (a first position) and/or separation (a second position) of first and second portions 120,130. Further, guide 160 can be formed of any desired material that is functionally consistent with the present invention, and may be flexible, elastic, or rigid, in whole or in part. In one exemplary embodiment, guide 160 can be provided as one or more elastic elements, such as, for example and not in limitation, one or more elastic cords.

It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the manner of making and using the claimed invention has been adequately disclosed in the above-written description of the exemplary embodiments and aspects. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments, aspects, arrangement, and components shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerous variations within the scope of the invention. Moreover, particular exemplary features described herein in conjunction with specific embodiments and/or aspects of the present invention are to be construed as applicable to any embodiment described within, enabled hereby, or apparent herefrom. Thus, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in a broad, illustrative, and enabling sense, rather than a restrictive one.

Further, it will be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims. 

Therefore, I claim:
 1. A novelty item, comprising: a main element having a front surface including an image of a head, a body, and a tail of a fish thereon, said main element further having first and second portions being separable along a line between the head and the tail such that the first portion includes the image of the head and the second portion includes the image of the tail; wherein the first and second portions are configured to abut each other so as to display the head, body, and tail in a continuous manner, and further configured to separate from each other so as to display the head and the tail in a discontinuous manner.
 2. The novelty item of claim 1, wherein the first portion further includes at least a portion of the body that is contiguous with the head.
 3. The novelty item of claim 2, wherein the second portion further includes at least a section of the body that is contiguous with the tail.
 4. The novelty item of claim 1, wherein the second portion further includes at least a section of the body that is contiguous with the tail.
 5. The novelty item of claim 1, wherein said main element is at least substantially flat.
 6. The novelty item of claim 1, wherein said main element is shaped like a fish.
 7. The novelty item of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions include respective handholds.
 8. The novelty item of claim 7, wherein the respective handholds are respective apertures through said main body and through which a user can pass their hands.
 9. The novelty item of claim 1, further comprising a guide connected to the first and second portions; wherein said guide has a first position, in which the first portion abuts the second portion, and a second position, in which the first and second portions are separated from each other. 